Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-05-06
TWICE DEAD.

. TWICE DEAD. ].
II was evening, 9 still, red-skied
evening late in summer. The sea
: FLASHED up in q sleep like. murm URN
monotone at The feet Of the few first
strollers on the promenade, and big
fashionable, fasJidious Westmouth
was wrapt for little time in dream,
free from the fretfulness and the flut-
ter of gaiety. nm +
In one OF the quiet cross streets
found the gate to which I had been
directed. A small brass plate an
nounced the name, and thesoft strains
of q violin which foated out through
the open window told me further that in
afew more minutes Ishould be learning
from Alice ,Ashbury the cost OF my
folly. Perhaps daring thought) in
half an hour my lost, forsaken, in
jured love would be in my arms again
for she had loved me. And she was
as forgiving as an angel. 4
While must wait feverisbly impa-
tient on the doorstep, you, reader,
may learn in very few words the rea-
son of my suspense. A year ago, just
ayear ago, and Alice Ashbury were
all the world to each other; there was
not film Of distrust between us, and
then we quarreled. That is enough.
l make the confession with shame,
but will not dilate on the circum-
stances. l acted in an impulsive,
inexcusable way, and went abroad for
:ayear. When Returned Learned that
Alice had gone to live with her moth
er. who was an invalid at Westmouth,
and was there giving lessons on the
violin, by which exertions she and her
mother, with the little income Mrs.
Ashbury received as clergyman's
widow from clerical charity, were
just able to live.
In the old days Alice was a. governess
in family where was a frequent
visitor. That vas in London, where
/ was reading law. was called to the
bar exactly a month before that fate
ful, ridiculous quarrel. I found my
self a barrister, with pride for my pro-
fession, ambition to succeed, and
plenty of money; and month later
such are the depths of folly open to
impulsive natures-there was nothing
to interest me in life but the torturing
memories ola happiness I had thrown
away.
"Mr. Steadman," said the servant,
and in another moment / was stand
ing an abashed culprit alone before
Alice Ashbury.
1t was Alice. I could have told that
almost in the dark. But what had
happened? Those large luminous,
eloquent eyes were hidden behind a
hideous pair of large stained glasses,
sight-protectors, with glass in front
and at the sides. And then her throat,
her neck as of exquisitely modelled
ivory-that was cloaked and hidden
away in an ugly black band. Yet it
was Alice, her very self, and that was
enough for me. -.
The unavoidable restraint, re-
straint very palpable in both of us,
was no sooner endured and dismissed
than / ,assailed her with SYM
pathy and enquiries which were so
saturated with self, reprOach and de-
probation as to make further declar-
" that J. was forgiven. Ali. if I
had seen nothing more, should not
have this narrative to tell.
Alice's manner was sweet-sweet as
Of old, but oh how differentl How
calm she became, and selt-subdued, as
became eager! She was not mine
she was not mine, though was so full
ly forgiven.
Round and throughout every word
and gesture was the unmistakable
mandate. which' only the most gra-
Cious natures CAN utter sweetly: '"To
this point you may come but no fur
ther."
To my earnest, eager inquiries she
had answered, quietly, 'Oh, my throat
will get better, and my eyes too,
hope. I have gone throug Oh greater
changes than those little tr oubles since
I saw you. What made you come
now, Herold? Had you not better
have written If We were not to keep up
that ridiculous quarrel till we were
old?." u ~ ,1,.~yt 8
Soon after this, when I had spoken
about, the past, and Alice had sighed
when had spoken about the future,
and she had shaken her head, ] threw
of all restraint. In vain she told me
that the past must be q dreams
pleasant one to her-that must not
speak OF love; things were altered. /
reproached and reviled myself, I pro-
tested, entreated. threatened Il
threatened that gentle, sympathetic,
loving heart with my own amending
misery. s.fEs.
..No, Harold" s aid she, when I had
assailed her gentle heart with entreat-
les and protestations till she trembled
like q leaf, IN O., you must go--you
must 60 at once, and far away, or you
will be unkind; lam engaged to be
married. : z }s 81 = 52s4 IL
But you love me, / cried, .'and
you do not love the man you are GO
ing to marry. You will break your
own heart in breaking mine." The
minutes flew, do not know how
many, while agony and bliss trenl-
bled in equipoise, aud hope and de-
spair chased each other, and wrestled
above the balance. 81 55I
No, no, = she said, family, but only
her lips spoke, lher heart refused not.
mo, no" but the struggle was over.
1'No, nc" but in another second u
should have clasped her in my arms,
n Al